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Several Agency areas sans potable water
Even as India is celebrating her 71st Independence Day, 70 per cent of the tribal population here in the Agency area still do not get potable drinking water. Out of total 6.10 lakh tribal populace, only 1.90 lakh tribals get potable drinking water in the 11 Agency mandals in the district.
Visakhapatnam: Even as India is celebrating her 71st Independence Day, 70 per cent of the tribal population here in the Agency area still do not get potable drinking water. Out of total 6.10 lakh tribal populace, only 1.90 lakh tribals get potable drinking water in the 11 Agency mandals in the district.
Highlights:
- Potable water supplied to 1,228 habitations only
- 70 per cent tribal populace not having potable water
- 60 per cent of 1200 open wells defunct
- 50 per cent of 3,090 bore-Wells defunct
- NTR Sujala Sravanthi mineral water scheme implemented in two panchayats only
Although all the political parties including the TDP have been making tall promises giving assurance to the tribals, they never focussed on the issue in providing drinking water to them.
The government has supplying drinking water to 1,228 habitations only out of the total 3,759 habitations in the agency.
The tribals in 312 habitations are not having any sort of resources and moving over 5-km long distance for water from the ponds and water streams. However, in the rest of the 2,471 habitations, the tribals are consuming water from highly polluted and unhygienic water sources.
When contacted, Executive Engineer of the Rural Water Supply Ram Prasad agreed that only 30 percent of the tribal habitations were covered and supplying potable water and some habitations having wells and bore-wells.
“Due to the geographical hurdles, some habitations are not having any water schemes. However, we are planning to provide them with alternative arrangements in those habitations. Due to the lack of funds, staff and other reasons, some schemes and plans got delayed,” the Executive Engineer told The Hans India here on Monday.
“The State government has already identified 312 habitations in which there were no water sources. We have already prepared an action plan to supply drinking water to those habitations. The government has already released funds and works will start shortly. Directions have been given to repair all the defunct bore-wells on priority,” Project Officer, ITDA-Paderu Ravi Pattanshetty.
Paderu MLA Giddi Eeswari said. “Drinking water problem is a major issue in the entire Agency areas. We are almost fighting with the government to attend the drinking water needs of the tribal habitations, but in vain. As there is no response from the government, we are planning to kick-start massive agitation on the issue.”
By Jatlee Dontala
